Plans are underway for a face lift at the Embassy Gardens, the land around the new US Embassy in the upmarket Nine Elms, London. Proposals have been submitted by Ballymore Group for designers Terry Farrell & Partners and a host of other bigwig designers to develop the master plan for this mixed land-use development.
Southbank which is considered an important part of London or the third city of London lies along the River Thames and stretches from Tower Bridge to Battersea Power Station. The development of this centre will contribute to the cityscape and culturalscape of Southbank London. Currently the area is occupied by warehouses and is not very well connected to Central London and its other neighborhoods. The first challenge would be to address this isolation and try and restore a link with London. With the right links, Westminster would just be a ten-minute walk.
The whole master plan is to be developed in two phases. The first phase is to be led by a Farrells and a host of architectural firms that include Fielden Clegg Bradley, AHMM and FLACQ. Once the permission for the development is granted by the authorities, the work will begin by next year.
The total stretch is about fifteen acres, with six hectares site development in the first phase. The proposal includes about 2000 residences, over 45,000 square meters of office space, a 100-bed hotel and 12,000 square meters of retails space including massive areas for bars and restaurants. The complex will also have a Health and Well Being Centre and other supporting services like shopping centers and other leisure activities for the settlers in this new community and for the nearly 1,800 people working in and visiting the facility. The individual buildings will be up to 23 storeys.
Sir Terry says:
“this whole stretch from Tower Bridge to Battersea Power Station presents an incredible opportunity to restore this area, which was once a part of central London. Industrialisation led to it becoming a hole in the city’s fabric and this is about joining it up and planning for liveability with a vibrant mix of uses and high quality public realm.”
Once the new Embassy Gardens comes to life, a new cultural centre will be created. This new district aims at creating a space interlinking public and private spaces.
Source: http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=16635
